Page 137 of The Temporary Bride

He looks like a starving man who’s found himself at a feast. It takes a long moment before he speaks, and when he does, his voice is quiet.

“How have you been?”

I can’t lie and tell him I’ve been alright. He’d see through that. But I don’t know quite how to answer honestly.

Instead, I sigh. “What are you doing here?”

“I know things got fucked up between us, and it’s my fault. I made mistakes I can’t even begin to make amends for. I wrecked the best thing I’ve ever had in my life.” He takes a step toward me, his gaze searching mine.

I open my mouth to say something, although I’m not even sure what, but Tristan holds up a hand, a plea in his eyes.

“I can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t live without you. I can’t let you go, dimples. Not without a fight. I came here to beg for another chance. Not to ask you to put the ring back on or come home with me, but just for… a date.”

The word date hangs in the air between us, a simple request that somehow carries a thousand possibilities. It’s such a small thing, but it feels huge in the context of everything that’s happened.

“I want us to start from the beginning. To build a relationship that we both know is true and real from the outset. Because it’s real for me, Chloe. The way I feel about you is the realest thing there is.”

His confession is raw, laid bare in front of me. He takes another step closer.

“I’ll never want anyone else the way I want you. I’m asking for a chance to prove that to you, to show you that this”—he gestures between us, his voice catching slightly—”is something worth fighting for.”

His words touch something deep inside me. A tear slips down my cheek despite my effort to stay composed.

“Chloe, I need you to know something,” he continues. “I love you. I love you so fucking much. I started falling for you long before the will reading. Whenever you were in the room, I couldn’t look anywhere else. I never want to be anywhere but with you. When I’m with you, I can breathe.”

And before I can respond—tell him that he’s breaking my heart all over again, or that I’m still too hurt to fully accept his words—he drops to his knees.

“Please. I’m begging you. Just one date. That’s all I’m asking for. I want to show you how much you mean to me. Just give me that chance.”

My pulse is racing, and tears well up in my eyes as I try to take in his words. The vulnerability in Tristan’s plea, the sincerity in his eyes… it all feels like too much.

I take a deep breath, trying to pull myself together. The tears escape despite my efforts to hold them back. I nod, not trusting my voice.

Tristan lets out a breath, relief crossing his features. He takes a moment to collect himself before he speaks again. “Thank you.”

“Where are we going?”

“The Regency?” Tristan suggests. “Eight o’clock, Friday night. I’ll make a reservation.”

I nod again. “I can do that.”

“Okay.” Tristan smiles at me. “I’ll see you then.”

As he turns to leave, nervous excitement runs through me. I sink slowly back onto the couch, dazed—but happy. Hopeful, for the first time in a long time.

Almost as soon as the front door closes, Ivy reappears, biting her lip with both eyebrows raised. She perches on the edge of the couch, grinning.

“So… what happened? How’d it go?”

I can’t help smiling, excitement bubbling up as I say, “I’ve got a date.”

Chapter 51

Tristan

As the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, I’ve met with powerful people, titans of the industry. I’ve had the future of a massive corporation in my hands, hundreds of thousands of jobs on the line.

But I’ve never been this nervous in my entire life.